Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-04-07
THE YOSEMITE IN WINTER.
A plueky Englishmans Remarkable Journey
from Mariposa to FL Captain.

lists to the Yosemite valley in midwinter,
says the San Francisco Chronicle. This
article is prefaced by the above remark
because of the Importance it gives TO
what will follow. IL is not every day in
the year that one meets with such dar-
ing and plucky globe-trotter as William
Peter, of London, who is now in this city.
Mr. Peter is the gentleman who recently
made foot-iourney to the Yosemite. He
is the only sight-seer who ever ventured
into that greIl scenic arena through such
depth of snow as has covered it during
the past few weeks, and is one of the very
few who have seen ice on Mirror lake.
Mr. Peters story is worth relating, and 1t
will be given as he told it to the reporter
who saw him yesterday on his return
from Monterey, whittier he repaired i'm
mediately after returning from his extra
ordinary trip 70 the valley.
II started from San Francisco ON Mon
day, the 2lst of February said he.
Having been told that | could not get
into the valley by the Big Tree route, /
went by the MERGED river trail, reaching
Mariposa on Tuesday night. ] was equip
ped with a small Photographic apparatus
with which | intended taking views of tho
valley. / was warmly dressed, as | had
been told that wculd have to encounter
snow and cold weather, and l wore on my
head large sealskin cap. At Mariposa /
found that my apparatus, fine one, cost
ing about $50, had been damaged by the
stage journey, and was therefore com
PEELED to leave it. | was just as much
pleased, however, as it turned out, that /
did not incumoer myself with it,
ct 60 nk oil la n n
TO the valley, about forty five miles, they
tell me, but that would be nothing were 1t
not such rough going. Hite's cove is
twenty two miles from Meriposa on the
way in. | made the distance in seven
hours and twenty minutes. 1t was tidy
journey, but could have gone thirty fiat
miles just as easy Half way to Hite's /
got into the snow. 1t covered the trail
and was not sure of the way, but was
directed by a man | met little way out,
and so | brought up at Hitas all right,
but feeling very hungry, as | had eaten
nothing since starting cut.
AT Aite's there is gold mine, and a
hotel whore the miners board and lodge,
but there is no accommodation there for
! travellers. However, made out very well
taking what | could get. After good,
long rest l started out at 220 o'clock tie
afternoon following the night of my ar
rival.
TO get to the Cascades, the next impo
tant stopping point ON the way, you must
first go up long steep mountain. 1t be-
gan &c rain after left The cove, and /;
rained very hard, SO that in short time
was frightfully wet. On reaching the
upper heights the rain turned TO snow
which continued until had passed down
the other side Eof the mountain. Up to
this time the snow that | had seen was
but small obstacle in the way of my
progress. The trail leads through some
very rough and lonely places, and as
did not meet soul on the whole day,
| journey, you may fancy how cheerful the
situation became. Down into deep and
wild gully made my way and soon came
to branch on the MERGED river.
"For a little time the sky was clear, but
! was not long in getting into moro rain
which, after my previous wetting, was not
at all comfortable, you know. Getting a
last down into good road, | moved my
legs as fast as could and at the end Of
a seven mile walk | stopped at nightfal
at little ranch by the roadside. 1t was
showing hard when | got TO the ranch.
stopped there that night and was wei
provided for. In the morning it was very
cold, so | waited until the sun WAS we'll up
and struck out again for the valley.
crossed the river and was soon in snow
over my knees. There were however
some places where there had only been I
light fall, so that the eight miles to the
Cascades were made before O'Clock in tn,
evening. There was no living being to b,
found there,buti in rude doorless cabin
managed to pass the night after a fashion
lighting fire and keeping myself as
warm as possible under the circums tan Gel
although it was coldtoutside. For foot
had little timed meat, brought along
to use on pinch. | was pleased to fine
an old pair of snowshoss in the cabin TO
I although l had mover walked with sucl
foot trappiDgs before, fanoied | shoulC
get along better than wading through th'
snow. | have no idea how deep the SNOW
was in many places over which | pas-eC
with those snowshoes, but it must hav'
been several feet.
"After good deal of clumsy expert
menting as to the best means of locomo
ton with the shoes, ] found myself a
Leidig's in the Yosemite. There | re
hi"ih"N ipA 70 bdgss 49, N'NN $500 a
short trips o, different points of interes
in the valley, going about altogether OF
snowshoes. The snow coverd everything
rocks, fences, and in many places low
trees and brush.
"El Captain under snow effect, is thu
most magnificent bit of scenery eve
saw, and | have seen the ngfrau anC
the Wetterhorn where l have trampec
shout q good deal. OF course, il is al
entirely different sort OF scenery from
the Alps, but there is rnore interest ct
tached to the Yosemite. Bridal Veil faI
was, l imagine, not seen at its best, MS
there was no melting snow and conse
quently not very large flow of water
u will be a grand sight when the snow
meltf. did not dare to venture up any
of the great heights without guide, as
l could readily see there was great danger
in making an ascent. As it was, ex
perienced some trouble from falling
masses of ice, and once or twice narrow
ly escaped with my life. When the ice
masses slip from the summit Of gre
precipice and go crushing down q di &,